Method of packaging soda straws



April-2:1,4 1?;42, G.. o. FRosTAD 4 2:2804405 METHOD OF PACKAGING SODA `STRAWS Filed July 11, v1940 1 l 2/ zz y 22;" /2/ Patented Apr. 21, 1942 Marnon or niermann?. sona s'raaws Geom o. Frosted, Milwaukee, wis. Application July 11, 1940, serial No. 344,874

10 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to improvements in the art of wrapping relatively frail elongated objects in packages containing .batches of one or more of thc objects, and relates more specifically to improvements in the co'nstruction of packages for soda straws or the like and to an improved method of producing such packages.

' Generallystated, an object of my invention is to provide an improved soda straw package, and .an improved methodl of producing soda straw packages or the like.

It has long been customary in an effort to protect and to maintain soda straws in sanitary condition during handling and dispensation thereof, to wrap these elongated relatively frail objects in batches of either one or a pair, within relatively thin tissue or similar paper con-- tainers. These soda straw wrappings must be relatively inexpensive, should rather loosely conne the straws so as to permit ready stripping of the wrapping sheath from the confined objects, and must above all effectively conceal and conilne the straws so as to prevent exposure to unsanitary conditions. In order to minimize the cost of wrapping these straws, it must be possi- Ible to rapidly and accurately segregate the objects into the desired hatches and to quickly confine the successive batches in relatively inexpensive wrapping stock without damaging the straws or wasting the stock. The wrapping operation must be such that the material is not folded or otherwise applied too tightly about the straws, so as to interfere with ultimate removal of the objects by stripping. And regardless of the speed of the wrapping operation, this operation must beperformed in a manner whereby each batch of straws is most eifctively and neatly confined and sealed within its individual wrapper. The prior soda `straw wrapping processes and machines have not been able to meet all of these important requirements, and the packages heretofore produced were either too costly for general use, or the wrappers too snugly embraced the straws, or they were insuniciently durable and tightly sealed to insure the necessary protection. The prior packages of this type when rapidly produced, moreover did not present a neat and "attractive appearance, and could not be compactly coniined within a receptacle because of the extremely loose and uneven application of the wrapping sheets.

It is therefore a more speciiic objectof my present invention to provide a new and `useful method whereby frail elongated objects such as soda straws. may be quickly and effectively 55 wrapped in relatively inexpensive paper to pro- 'duce vattractiv packages.

Another specic object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of producing soda straw packages automatically, accurately and in rapid succession, without waste of either straws or wrapping stock, and at minimum cost.

l0 Still another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved wrapping for one or more elongated objects such as soda straws, which is inexpensive, durable, effective as a concealing means, and which may be readily removed without damaging the objects.

An additional speciiic object of this invention is to provide an improved soda straw package, containing one or more straws, and which is compact and neat in appearance, `and wherein` the straws are most effectively concealed and protected.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description.A

A clear conception of the several steps constituting my improved soda straw wrapping method, and of the construction of the improved package, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specication wherein like reference.v characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing schematicallythe various elements of a machine for carrying on commercial exploitation ofthe improved method of packing soda straws, the tuckers and cutters being shown inaction andv the. pinch Welders.

being inactive;

Fig. 2 is a fragment of a similar diagram showing the pinch Welders in action while the tuckers and. cutters are inactive;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the straw supply hopper, taken along the line 3 3 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top view' showing-the side tuckers in action on a fra tube;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end'view looking into one type of web folding tunnel cooperating with two-` strawbatches and adapted to overlap the opposite web edges;

gment. of wrapping Fig. 6 is a similar view looking into anotherv type of folding tunnel for wrapping the web edges between the two straws of each batch:

Fig. 7 is another similar view looking into the e and tightly sealed successive web wrapping tunnel of a single straw wrapping machine:

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the completed soda straw packages, portions thereof having been broken away to show internal structure;

Fig. 9 is a side. View of one end of the package of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is an end view of the same package. While the invention has been shown and described herein as being especially useful for automatically wrapping Aor packing either one or two soda straws in each of a succession of wrappers formed of tissue paper and while the web of wrapping stock is constantly advancing, it is not my desire or intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement. The term soda straw" as used herein is intended to include any elongated object having similar shape, whether hollow o`r solid. The term tissue paper is intended to include any more or less porous and thin mapping stock, and the term adhesive is intended to include glue or any other material capable of uniting the web edges.

Referring to Figs, i to 4 inclusive of the drawing, the machine for packaging soda straws in accordance with my improved method, comprises in general any suitable means such as revolving rollers I2, I3, Il, I5, I. for guiding and for continuously feeding a web I1 of thin sheet material such as tissue paper along a definite path; means such as a supply hopper Il having a lower discharge portion I9 and a reciprocating feed plunger 2l cooperating therewith to deposit endwise separated successive batches of straws 2| upon the advancing web i1; wrapping means such as a tunnel 22 for folding the opposite side edges of the advancing web I1 upwardly, and at least one of these edges inwardly over the adjacent straw 2|; adhesive applying Ameans including a liquid adhesive supply reservoir 23, a transfer rollor disk 24, and an applying disk 25 cooperable with one or both side edges of the web I1 after leaving the tunnel 22; a pair of press rolls 2B, 21 for folding the web I1 into tubular formation about the advancing straws 2| and for forming an adhesive seam 2l extending throughout the tube length; a pair of coacting revolving side tuckers 2! disposed at the opposite sides of the advancing tubular web I1' and cooperating with initial revolving presser shoes 20 tov form opposite inwardly directed approximately triangular tucks 2| at the spaces 32 between successive batches of the advancing straws 2|; a pair of cooperating revolving compression or pinch welding blocks 32 cooperable with the tubular web I1' transversely across the medial wider portions of each set of tucks 3| and medially of each space l32 to form pinch welded areas 34; a revolving cutter knife l5 cooperating with a revolving anvil element 36 to sever the advancing assemblage medially of each welded area 3l into successive completed packagesl; and a pair of discharge rolls Il co- -ling web I1, see Fig. 3. In cases where single straws 2| are to bepacked in individual packages, a hopper I8 having a narrower lower discharge portion I! may be used, or one of the vertical lanes formed by the partition 4I may be blocked oif. The straw removing plunger is reciprocable upon a fixed plate 42 by means of a lever l2 operable by a crank pin and block 44' v carried by the feed roll I3 and coacting with a acting with the soda straw packages 31 to deliver the same from the machine.

The continuous web I1 which is preferably formed of relatively inexpensive and porous sheet material so that the adhesive may readily permeate .the welded areas 2l, may be derived from a supply roll Il and may be passed through suitable printing and decorating `apparatus l0 before reaching the'feed rolls I2, Il. The printing apparatus Il, and the various guide and feed rolls -and other wrapping. sealing and packaging elements may be operated in` synchronism in any slot l5 in the lever, and the length of the plunger reciprocations may be varied so as to vary the lengths of the spaces 32 between successive batches of straws. The hopper I8 may also be provided, with agitator mechanism 46 operable by the upper straw feed roll I5' as shown in Fig. l, to cause the straws 2l to assume parallel positions and to properly gravitate through the hopper portion i9; and this upper feed roll I5' cooperates with the lower roll I5 to feed the successive batches of straws 2| removed from the hopper I8 by the plunger 20, into the folding tunnel 22. v

.'Ihe initial folding tunnel which is located in the path of travel of the web I1 and of the successive batches of straws 2 I, may be of different types as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, depending upon the form of package desired. The tunnel 22 shown in Fig. 5, is adapted to fold both of the longitudinal edges of the web I1 upwardly, but folds only one of these edges inwardly to horizontal position while the other edge remains vertical. The type of wrapping tunnel 2,2 shown in Fig. 6, is adapted to fold both of the longitudinal web edges upwardly,'inwardly and downwardly around the adjacent straws 2|. The type of tunnel 22" shown in Fig. 7, is adapted to fold both longitudinal edges of the sheet I1 upwardly, but only one edge portion inwardly and downwardly about the single straw. 2|, and other types of tunnels maybe provided as required. When the web I1 leaves the tunnels 22, 22", one edge portion thereof is in upright position, but

when the web leaves a tunnel 22 both edge'porizsims are folded downwardly between the straws The adhesive applying roller or disk 25 is adapted to receive adhesive such as glue from the transfer roll 24 which in turn withdraws the adhesive from the receptacle 23 in a well known manner. The revolving disk 25 is adapted to deposit a stripe or layer 48 of adhesive upon the inwardly folded edge portion of the advancing strip I1 as shown in Fig. 1, or betwen the downwardly folded web edge portions if a tunnel 22' is used. The initial pressing rollers 26, 21l are adapted to subsequently fold the upstanding web edge' portion over the adhesive layer 48, Vor in the case of Fig. 6, to press the inturned web edges together, thus completing the tubular web I1' within which the endwise separated successive batches of straws 2| are confined.-

'Ihe revolving tuckers 29 are adapted to form the opposite approximately triangular side tucks 3| in the tubular web I1 at each ofthe successive spaces 22 between batches of the straws 2|, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, after the longitudinal seam 2l has been completed; and the revolving presser shoes 36 coact with the tubular'web I1' at the spaces`32 when the tuckers 2l are in action and assist the latter in forming neat tucks 3|,

while at the same time flattening and contracting the tube to some extent between the ends of the straws 2I. Following the tucking operations, the welding blocks33 are adapted to engage the flattened tubular web I 1' transversely across each set of tucks II to tightly pinch and swage the mate. rial, and to .thereby form the local welded areas 3l. While the compression of theporous material at the areas 34v is sumciently high to cause the overlapping sheets and tucksy to be iirmly connected and thoroughly welded, the Apinching action w'lll also cause the moist adhesive at the be apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the construction and operation of apparatus for carrying on the commercial exploitation of the4 method, a short rsum of the'steps involved will again be set forth. The flat web I1 which is continuously withdrawn from lthe supplyroll 39 may be printed or decorated in the apparatus lli, whereupon the feed and guide rolls I2, I3, Il, I5, I6 constantly advance the web I1 beneath the straw supply hopper I3 and through the tunnel 22. While the web I1 is travelling beneath the hopper I3, successive batches of straws 2I are deposited thereon in endwise spaced relation, and while passing through the tunnel 22,-` the opposite web'edges are folded upwardly and inwardly to loosely embrace the straws. Adhesive is subsequently applied to the inturned edge portion and the upstanding opposite edge portion is folded over the adhesive stripe I3 to form a seam 28 and to complete the tubu-` lar web I1. The advancing tube is then provided with the tucks`3i. following which the welded areas 3l are produced; and when the tubular web I1 is finally severed medially across each welded area 34, the completed improved soda straw packages 31 result. Since all of the movable elements are operated at relatively high speed and in synchronism, 'the method is carried on at high speed and with positive assurance that alli of the packages 31 will be uniform in structure and neat in appearance.

It will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description and rsum, that my present invention provides an improved method of rapidly and effectively packing elongated objectssuch as relatively frail soda straws, without danger of damaging the straws. The new method is adapted to be carried on by hand, but the rapidity of packing can be greatly enhanced and uniform packages will be assured, by.l utilizing improved apparatus of the type hereinabove described. With my improved method, the-straws 2l whether packed singly or in pairs, will not be too tightly wrapped to prevent stripping of the wrapper; but on the other hand, the wrapping will be sutliciently snug to provide neat appearing and tightly sealed successive packages 31. 'I'he tucks 3| and welds 34 while thoroughly sealing the package ends, also present neat appearing tabs which may be torn off when the straws l wardly at each space between ing the web stock or otherwise wasting materials.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the precise steps of the method or to the exact details of construction of the apparatus, herein described and illustrated, f for various modications within the scope of the appended claims in the art.

I claim:

1. The method of wrapping soda straws, which comprises, continuously longitudinally advancing a web of wrapping material, feeding successive batches of the straws in endwise spaced relamay occur to persons skilled tion upon the advancing web, folding the advancing web about the straws and securing the longitudinal web edges to provide a tubular enclosure, forming opposite inwardly extending approxi-V mately triangular tuckslin the advancing tube at each space between successive batches of straws and collapsing the adjacent tube portions against the tucks, and Vswaging the advancingv tube at said spaces and transversely across the tucks tol seal the tube at the opposite ends of each batch.

2. The method of wrapping soda straws, which comprises, continuously longitudinally advancing a web of Wrapping material, feeding successive batches of the straws in endwise spaced relation upon the advancing web, folding the advancing web about the straws and securing the longitudinal web edges to provide a tubular enclosure, forming opposite inwardly extending ap# Vproximately triangular tucks in the advancing tubeat each space between successive batches of straws and collapsing the adjacent tube portions'against the tucks, swaging the advancing tube at said' spaces and transversely across the tucks to seal the tube at the opposite ends of each batch, and severing the tube medially of eachy swaged areato'segregate the successive packages. 3. The method of wrapping soda straws, which comprises, continuously longitudinally advancing a. web of Wrapping material, depositing successive like batches of straws upon' the advancing web in endwise spaced relation, wrapping the web about the straws to form a tube having the endwise spaced batches of straws enclosed therein, tucking the opposite sides of the advancing tube inwardhl at each space between successive batches of straws and collapsing the adjacent tube portions snugly against the tucks, and compressing the advancing tube transversely of the tucks to provide successive pinch welded areas extending across Ithetube and the medial portions of the tucks.

4. The method of wrapping soda straws, which comprises, continuously longitudinally advancing a web of wrapping material, depositing successive like batches of straws upon the advancing web in endwise spaced relation, wrapping the web about the straws to form a tube having the endwise spaced batches of straws-enclosed therein, tucking the opposite sides of the advancing tube insuccessive batches of straws and collapsing the adjacent tube' portions snugly agaihst the tuc'ks, compressing the advancing `tube transversely of the tucks to provide successive. pinch welded areas extending depositing successive batches of straws upon the advancing web in endwise spaced relation, folding the web about the straws and adhesively uniting the web edges to form a tube having endvwise spaced batches of straws confined therein,

tucking the sides of the advancing tube inwardly at each space between successive batches of `straws and simultaneously snugly collapsing the adjacent tube portions against the tucks, and thereafter pinching the advancing tube transversely and centrally of each tuckedarea to provide successive welded zones permeated by the adhesive. f

6. The method of wrapping soda straws o'r the like, which comprises, continuously longitudinally advancing a web of porous wrapping material,

depositing successive batches of straws upon the advancingweb in endwise spaced relation, folding the web about the straws and adhesively uniting the web edges to form a tube having endwise spaced batches of straws confined therein, tucking the sides of the advancing tube inwardly at each space between successive batches of straws l and simultaneously snugly collapsing the adjacent tube portions against the tucks, thereafter pinching the advancing tube transversely and centrally of each tucked area to provide successive welded zones permeated by the adhesive and severing the tube transversely and medially of each welded zone to segregate the successive completed packages.

7. The method of wrapping soda straws, which comprises, longitudinally disposing a web of wrapping material, depositing successive batches of the straws in endwise spaced relation longitudinally upon the web, folding the web about I the straws to provide a tubular enclosure, forming opposite inwardly directed approximately tri- 8. The method ofwrapping soda straws, which comprises, "longitudinally disposing 'a web of wrapping material, depositing successive batches of the straws in endwise spaced'relation longitudinally upon the web, folding the web about the straws to provide a tubular enclosure, forming opposite inwardly directed approximately triangular tucks in the tube at each space between successive batches of the straws and simultaneously collapsing the adjacent tube portions snugly againstthe tucks, thereafter firmly com pressing the tube at each of said spaces and across the widest portions of the tucks to seal the tube at the opposite ends of each batch, and severing l5 the tube medially'of each compressed area to segregate the successive packages.

9. The method of wrapping soda straws, which comprises, flatly longitudinally disposing a web of thin wrapping stock, depositing successive batches of straws in endwise uniformly spaced relation longitudinally upon the web and loosely folding the web about the straws to provide a relatively loose tubular enclosure, forming opposite inwardly directed approximately triangular tucks in the tube at each space with the widest portions .of the tucks approximately midway between the adjacent ends of the successive batches of straws to contract the tube width medially of each space, and thereafter pinching the tube transversely across the widest portion of each set of tucks to provide a press welded flat seal at the opposite ends of each batch.

l0. The method of wrapping soda straws, which comprises, flatly longitudinally disposing a web of thin wrapping stock, depositing successive batches of straws in endwise uniformly spaced relation longitudinally uponthe web and loosely `folding the web about the straws to provide a relatively loose tubular enclosure, forming opposite inwardly directed approximately triangular tucks' in the tube at each space with the widest portions of the tucks approximately midway between the adjacent ends of the successive batches of straws to contract the tube width medially of angular tucks in the tube at each space between each space, thereafter pinching the tube transsuccessive batches of the straws and simultaneously collapsing the adjacent tube portions snugly against the tucks, and thereafter firmly compressing the tube at each of said spaces and across the widest portions of the tucks to seal successive packages.

the tube atthe opposite ends of each batch.

versely across the widest portion of each set of tucks to provide a press welded fiat seal at the opposite ends of each batch, and severing the tube medially of each welded area to segregate the GEORGE o. mos-TAD. 

